Chapter 237: Ideas

A flicker of shock passed through Luoyuan’s eyes, which quickly sharpened into anger.

“You’re insane! You know exactly how vast the gap is between us!”

“Yes, I am insane.” Ye Lan’s voice was low and dangerous, “For Mu Xi, I can give up everything, including my life. What about you? For your so-called ‘future,’ what are you willing to sacrifice?”

Luoyuan fell silent for a moment before suddenly asking, “I remember your Escort Team suffered heavy losses during that raid. Where did those well-equipped teams outside come from?”

Ye Lan let out a soft chuckle and said, “I told you, you underestimate me. Those at the Manor were only a portion of my strength. I have arrangements everywhere, and now, I am summoning them all.”

Luoyuan’s expression became extremely grim.

“Moreover,” Ye Lan continued, her voice turning icy, “it wouldn’t matter even if you killed me. My people would hunt you to the ends of the earth until you and every single one of your subordinates are dead. That is The Order I gave them.”

Mu Xi stood behind Ye Lan, feeling the powerful aura radiating from her. 

She felt both envious and a little frightened.

This version of Ye Lan was a world apart from the gentle, considerate woman who treated her so kindly, yet she was equally captivating.

Luoyuan gritted her teeth and finally nodded, “Fine. Let’s sit down and talk.”

She turned to Mu Xi, her tone softening slightly, “Princess, stay in the RV for now. It’s too dangerous outside.”

Ye Lan glanced at Mu Xi and said softly, “Be good and wait for me here. I’ll be back soon.”

Mu Xi hesitated for a second but eventually nodded.

***

Time passed slowly, feeling as though a century had gone by. 

Mu Xi paced back and forth anxiously inside the RV, but all she could see through the windows was the desolate yellow sand of The Desert.

‘How come she isn’t back yet…’ She bit her lower lip, her fingers unconsciously twisting together.

The RV’s air conditioner hummed, creating a sharp contrast with the deathly silence outside.

Mu Xi walked over to the control panel, lowered the temperature, and returned to the window. 

The images of Ye Lan and Luoyuan leaving kept flashing through her mind. 

One was tall and elegant, while the other possessed an overwhelming presence.

Two completely different women, yet both were inextricably linked to her.

‘What are they talking about?’ Mu Xi whispered to herself, her long silver hair swaying gently with her movements.

If the negotiations failed, a battle between the two was inevitable.

Mu Xi couldn’t help but imagine the scene — blood and fire in The Desert, where only one person could return alive.

‘Who will it be?’ She sat on the edge of the bed, hugging her knees tightly.

According to her basic instincts, she should want Luoyuan to win.

After all, that blond, blue-eyed woman had saved her life and given her shelter. 

Whenever Luoyuan’s blue eyes locked onto her and commanded her to do something, she felt an irresistible urge to obey.

“Good sister…” Mu Xi murmured, but she found the title felt awkward on her tongue.

She suddenly realized her thoughts were fighting against her instincts.

The implanted sense of obedience was beginning to loosen, becoming as unstable as the shifting sands of the desert.

‘No, my thoughts…’ Mu Xi closed her eyes, trying to clear her mind. 

‘If I follow my true thoughts…’

She thought of the woman who always treated her with tenderness, the one who didn’t hesitate to make an enemy of a powerful foe for her sake and was even willing to give up her life. 

She pictured black hair blowing in the wind and eyes shimmering with the light of victory.

“Ye Lan…” Mu Xi whispered the name, feeling a warm current surge from the depths of her heart.

She lay down on the bed and hugged a pillow, imagining the scene of Ye Lan returning. 

Perhaps she would bear the marks of battle, her clothes stained with blood, but her eyes would still hold that tenderness meant only for her.

‘Little Xi, I’m back.’ 

She could imagine Ye Lan saying those words as she opened her arms.

The thought made Mu Xi’s heart race and her cheeks flush.

She unconsciously squeezed the pillow tighter, her legs intertwining as she felt an unprecedented longing. 

Her breathing grew shallow and her body felt flushed. 

A strange sensation rose from her abdomen, making her let out a soft moan.

‘What is… this feeling…’ Mu Xi thought dazed, yet she couldn’t stop the fantasy.

She rolled over and buried her face in the pillow, trying to steady her breathing.

But the image of Ye Lan was inescapable — those deep phoenix eyes, her fair skin, and the lips that always smiled at her.

“Ye Lan…” she whispered the name again, feeling a sense of sweetness and peace she had never known.

Suddenly, Mu Xi bolted upright, realizing how strange she was acting. 

This longing and attachment to Ye Lan were the exact opposite of the thoughts Luoyuan had drilled into her.

‘Who am I?’ 

She looked at her hands as if seeing them for the first time. 

‘What do I really want?’

Outside, the desert wind howled, kicking up clouds of yellow sand.

Just as Mu Xi’s thoughts were in a state of turmoil, the RV door was suddenly pushed open, and Ye Lan appeared at the entrance.

Everything seemed exactly as it had been before they left.

“Ye Lan!” Mu Xi practically bounced off the bed, lunging into the woman’s arms like a little rabbit and wrapping her arms tightly around her waist.

She could feel the warmth of Ye Lan’s body. 

That comforting scent made her eyes sting slightly. 

“How did it go? What did you talk about?”

Ye Lan gently patted Mu Xi’s back and tucked a stray silver hair behind her ear, a faint smile playing on her lips. 

“The negotiation was a success. From now on, Luoyuan won’t control us anymore, and she won’t give us any more orders.”

“Really?” Mu Xi looked up, her eyes wide with surprise and disbelief.

“We can leave the base for now, at least until Luoyuan’s New Castle is built.”

Mu Xi bit her lip and nodded thoughtfully, “I understand.” 

She hesitated for a moment and asked,  “What about your Escort Team?”

Ye Lan walked to the window, looking out at the blurry horizon she said,  “They won’t enter the base, but they will receive supplies from the base for their livelihood. In exchange, they will patrol the outskirts of the base to provide extra security.”

“It’s a trap,” Mu Xi said suddenly, her voice uncharacteristically firm. 

“Luoyuan is doing this on purpose to wear down your Escort Team. If real danger arrives, her people can hide inside the base while your team acts as the first line of defense. Once they’ve suffered heavy casualties, Luoyuan will likely tear up the agreement and wipe us all out.”

A brief silence fell over the RV. 

Ye Lan turned around, a flash of surprise in her eyes that quickly turned into an appreciative smile.

She walked toward Mu Xi and placed a slender hand on top of her head by saying, “It seems my Little Xi is not only beautiful but quite sharp as well. I thought the Fool’s Pill I fed you earlier turned you into a total idiot.”

“What pill?” Mu Xi tilted her head, her eyes full of confusion.

Ye Lan’s expression stiffened for a split second, and a hint of flustered panic crossed her eyes, but she quickly recovered and said”Just a joke. Don’t take it seriously.”

Mu Xi wanted to press further, but Ye Lan had already changed the subject and walked toward the bed.

Her gaze landed on the damp pillow, and her slender eyebrows rose slightly. “What happened here?”

Mu Xi’s face turned bright red in an instant.

How could she possibly tell Ye Lan that her body had reacted while she was thinking about her?

In her panic, she blurted out, “I, I drooled in my sleep.”